Closed cover for medicinal vial

ABSTRACT

A medicinal vial closed cover, for the prevention of cross contamination by the collection of airborne foreign particles on the surface opening of the rubber port on a medicinal vial container, after the seal is once broken and vial not in use. Container of such type having an axially extended neck and an entrance opening head coaxial with the neck in which the opening is sealed by a rubber plug through which a hypodermic needle is inserted to extract solution into a syringe, then administered to patient. Closed cover may be composed of any suitable materials, such as plastic, synthetic resin, metal etc., which will be impervious to moisture, air and air particles. The cover having a flat closed circular head (top), connected to an indented—extended or short—hollow circular neck area (middle), that connects to an open hollow circular base with inner ridges at the base (bottom), adapted to be attached over the head of the medicinal vial container and latching to under the base of the medicinal vial head.

This application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/009,714, filed on Dec. 31, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to covers for medicinal vials and more particularly to a disposable closed cover which shields the medicinal vials' rubber port surface from cross contamination, by the collection of foreign air particles which may carry harmful pathogens, once the seal has been broken and vial is not in use. Therefore, decreasing the risk of infection by cross contamination to patient.

The foreign matters include those which are retained on the rubber ports' surface even after washing. When the surface of a washed rubber port is observed by a scanning electron microscope at magnification of about 10.sup.2,-10.sup.3 times, the presence of indented locations or attachments of solid foreign matters can be observed there on. It seems that they are connected to an increase in the number of foreign matters with time. Prolong use of injecting hypodermic needles into vials' rubber surface, will result in vials' surface rubber plug deterioration, allowing for contamination.

Microorganisms that cause disease are transmitted by a number of routes, and the same microorganisms can be transmitted by more than one route. Airborne, contact, food transmission etc., are the most common vehicles that carry microorganisms that can lead to cross contamination to medicinal vials in a medical or home setting. Nosocomial and exogenous infections, are caused by organisms that enter the patient from the environment, other patients, staff members, inanimate objects, equipment used in intravenous therapy and other fixtures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches a disposable closed cover which fits over a medicinal vials' head and snaps down and latches to under vials' head to close, once the vials' seal has been initially broken for use. The closed cover, keeps a constant shield over vials' rubber plug surface. The surface is used for injecting hypodermic needles and withdrawing solution for administration to patient, thus applying closed cover, prevents any cross contamination by microorganisms to vial, when vial not in use. Such cover is made of material which is impervious to moisture, air and air particles and is easily removed by a “push-up” with finger for removal of cover. A flat closed circular top, connected to neck (extended or short), connected to the circular hollow base with inner grips at the bottom, which allows for medicinal vials' head to fit and latch on to under the vials' head snugly to close.

Keeping medicinal vials' rubber plug surface covered when not in use, once seal is broken, reduces the risk of cross contamination by foreign particles which can carry microorganism that can cause disease and infect patient.

REFERENCES CITED

U.S. Patent Documents 4,671,331 Jun. 9, 1987 Pruden 2,364,126 December 1944 Cantor et al. 1,189,465 July 1916 Mayo 2,524,365 Oct 1950 Smith 2,186,888 January 1940 Tullar et al.

Books:

Microbiology—Principles & Applications—Joan G. Creager, Jacqueline G. Black, Vee E. Davison 1990

Clinical Nursing Skills—Sandra f. Smith, RN, MS, Donna J. Duell, RN, MS Third Edition

Introduction to Nursing—Barbara Kozier, Glenora Erb, Patricia Mckay Bufalino 1989

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an unopened medicinal vial, with seal on (intact).

FIG. 2 illustrates a medicinal vial, with seal broken.

FIG. 3 illustrates an opened medicinal vial, with it's rubber plug surface exposed to air.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a medicinal vial cover.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ring closure apparatus which serves as a sealing device once FIG. 4 is on attached to vial.

FIG. 6 is an axial view of a medicinal vial cover fitted over medicinal vial head with ring closure apparatus sealed to cover.

FIG. 7 is an axial view of a disposable medicinal vial cover fitted over medicinal vial head.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a short medicinal vial cover.

FIG. 9 is an axial view of a short medicinal vial cover fitted over medicinal vial head with ring closure apparatus sealed to cover.

FIG. 10 is an axial view of a disposable short medicinal vial cover fitted over medicinal vial head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which illustrates a medicinal vial bottle 3, with it's head area 2, which carries the rubber plug opening 4, used for injections. In FIG. 1, seal 1 is intact to medicinal vial, specifying an unopened vial. In FIG. 2, seal 1 has been broken. FIG. 3 illustrates an opened vial with surface of rubber plug exposed to air.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cover 6 in accordance with the invention. FIG. 5, a ring closure apparatus 13, with projections 12, which serves as a seal once cover 6 is attached to vial 3. Cover 6, and ring closure apparatus 13 is made of any suitable material, plastic, synthetic resin, metal etc; that is impervious to air, moisture and air particles. Cover 6 is made with a top 5 which is flat and circle shaped, then connects to it's neck area 7, a hollow circular area, which can be extended or short, less narrow than top. Allows for easy manipulation when removing and handling medicinal vial 3. Base area 8, circular hollow area which is designed to fit over various sizes of medicinal vials' head. Inside the base 8, has inner flanges 10, which protrude outward; made of a more bendable/flexible material, allowing flanges to latch on to under medicinal vials' head 2 when cover is placed on vial, to close. FIG. 5, is a ring closure apparatus 13, which can be used in place of the old medicinal vial seal 1. It can be manufactured with the bottle, during the sealing process/phase. It allows cover to serve as a seal and a cover to recover to medicinal vial, once the seal has been broken. Ring closure apparatus 13, is made of any suitable material that allows cover to be sealed to it, meeting all regulations of a closing devise. Ring closure apparatus 13, is sealed to cover by way of it's teeth projections 12. Thus can later be connected to cover by way of a connecting device which allows cover 6 to open when in use and recover without being placed on any surface. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, illustrates a axial view of a medicinal vial 3, with a cover 6 fitting over medicinal vial's head 2 and flanges 10, holding cover 6 in place on vial. In FIG. 6, cover 6 is sealed at the end of base 9, to the ring closure apparatus 13. FIG. 7 shows a disposable cover 6 fitted over a medicinal vial's head 2, with flanges 10, holding vials' head 2 in place.

FIG. 8 shows a short medicinal vial cover 6, without the extended neck (middle) area 7; a short cover. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, shows a short medicinal vial cover 6 fitted over medicinal vial head 2 with flanges 10, holding cover in place under vial's head. In FIG. 9, the cover 6 is sealed at the end of base of cover 9, to the ring closure apparatus 13, sealed during manufacture. FIG. 10 illustrates a disposable short medicinal vial cover 6, fitted over medicinal vial's head 2. Covers is made in various sizes to fit medicinal vial's head and can also be color coded for various identification purposes. Covers are made disposable and can be labeled.

While the principals of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrative form, there will become obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications in structure, arrangements, portions and materials used in the practice of the invention and otherwise which are particularly adapted for specific operating requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A one piece cover for use on a medicinal vial, when vial not in use. Vial having an axially-extending neck and a sealed entrance opening (head) coaxial with the neck adapted for puncturing by a needle of a syringe to permit withdrawal of the contents of said vial. Said cover being formed of any suitable material such as plastic, synthetic resin, metal etc. and comprising: a closed non-pierce able circular top impervious to air and air particles adapted for easy grasping and proper handling of said vial, by user. a hollow circular base adapted to fit over said medicinal vial head, with inner flanges which are designed to latch to under said medicinal vials' head to keep it in place. a hollow narrow circular neck area which connects said closed top with said base; said neck made short or extended to assist in handling of said medicinal vial.
 2. A one piece cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein cover is made disposable, wherein a new disposable closed cover is to be replaced each time, after each use of said medicinal vial.
 3. A one piece cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover is made of material that aids in preventing and stopping cross contamination of foreign microorganisms to said medicinal vials' surface opening.
 4. A one piece cover as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cover has ring closure apparatus which is manufactured with said vial during sealing process, it can replace old seal, allowing the cover to serve as a seal and a cover that recovers between uses.
 5. A one piece cover as set forth in claim 3 wherein said covers's ring closure apparatus serves as a seal, it allows for cover to fuse to ring closure apparatus by way of it's teeth projections, thus cover can replace old seal and serve as a cover that seals and a cover to keep vial covered between uses.
 8. A one piece cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover is available in various colors, to assist in naming and timely disposal of said vial.
 9. A one piece cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover is made in various sizes, to fit various size medicinal vials.
 10. A one piece cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover allows for user to label and date said cover, to assist in identifying and timely disposal of said medicinal vial.
 11. A one piece cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover is made and packaged to maintain sterility. 